Application LIFE
Granted funds to write LIFE Älväng
The European Comissions LEADER project Hävd av Nedre Dalälvens älvängar, has investigated the possibilities to restore the river meadows along the Lower river Dal. The project ended in March but now we have been granted funding to write an application for LIFE Älväng by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If the application passes, we are given the opportunity to continue the work for traditional restaurations of the meadows with a biosphere perspective.
The idea of the project is that most of the meadows along the Lower river Dal will be restored, then reset to fine hay and pastures as they were in the past. The main aim of the project is to create conditions for the habitats and the species that are tied to river meadows to get a long-term sustainable and favorable conservation status. For long-term sustainability these areas must be grazed or mown regularly.
Besides biodiversity, the project aims to improve conditions and opportunities for the people who live and work in the area. This through improved opportunities for recreation, tourism and rural development. Further more, the project can create opportunities for entrepreneurs and farmers to manage and operate the meadows that gets restored.
The Countie Administratvie Boards of Gävleborg and Uppsala are close partners and is currently looking at appropriate areas for restoration. The project will last for 6 years, starting no earlier than 2017. The process of application is now in full swing, in early October, it must be completed and sent to the European Commission.
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LIFE
The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental and climate policy and legislation by co-financing projects with European added value.